Generals Die in Bed - 1333 Words

Through the soldiers’ experiences, the narrator shows only the dark side of human nature. Discuss. Generals die in Bed by Charles Yale Harrison is a novel where a young Canadian soldier tells of his first hand account of the harsh and inhumane conditions in the trenches on the Western Front during World War 1. Through his observations and experiences the Narrator shows the effects of war on ordinary people and how they manage in extraordinarily horrific situations. Even though the brutal nature of the war is often reflected in the violent way that combatants act towards one another there are also moments when compassion and mercy is shown. The novel demonstrates that in extreme situations both the dark and the good side of human†¦show more content†¦However we also are shown bravery, companionship and acts of kindness as the soldiers struggle to stay humane and sane in a hellish environment. Throughout the novel they are compassionate and caring to even their enemies in their darkest moments. They also illustrate the dark and unforgiving side of human nature. They show no pity or mercy even while being pleaded too. Throughout the novel the Narrator often shows compassion towards others – in his actions – eg. letting the German soldier grieve for his dead brother letting him take ‘a few letters and papers from his brother’s pockets’ and imagines how their mother would feel. He then helps the Germans to safety behind the lines amp; asks that ‘the prisoners be treated nicely.’ Just like their constant companions the lice and the rats, the soldiers in the trench adapt to the hell that they find themselves trapped in – doing whatever it takes to survive. They even fight each other over food ‘at each others throats like hungry, snarling animals’. As the novel amp; the war progresses so does the inhumane side of the soldiers who become increasing more detached from killing, unconcerned with the death of friends. The soldiers are conditioned, hardened up and desensitised with self preservation becoming a key motivator. This is shown as the soldiers plunder the city of Arras allies town and vandalize houses with no consideration of the localShow MoreRelatedGenerals Die in Bed926 Words   |  4 PagesGenerals Die in Bed by Charles Yale Harrison ‘Generals Die in Bed’ demonstrates that the war only bring the sense of futility and despair.’ Discuss. By Saro Man 9B Generals Die in Bed certainly demonstrates that war is futile and the soldiers suffer both emotionally and physically. Charles Yale Harrison presents a distressing account of the soldiers fighting in the Western front, constantly suffering and eventually abandoning hope for an end to the horrors that they experience daily. The ‘boys’Read More Charles Yale Harrison’s Generals Die in Bed vs Colin McDougall’s Execution1733 Words   |  7 PagesCharles Yale Harrison’s Generals Die in Bed vs Colin McDougall’s Execution As with any genre, all novels termed ‘war stories’ share certain elements in common. The place and time settings of the novels, obviously, take in at least some aspect of at least one war or conflict. The characters tend to either be soldiers or are at least immediately affected by the military. An ever present sense of doom with punctuated moments of peace is almost a standard of the war novel. Beyond theRead MoreExpression of the Opposing Sides in All Quiet On The Western Front by Remarque and Generals Die in Bed by Harrison1197 Words   |  5 PagesAll Quiet On The Western Front is the German side and The Generals Die In Bed is the Allied side. The story of All Quiet On The Western Front centers on a young teenager, Paul Baumer the 19 year old German together with his 4 other classmates is persuaded to volunteer for the German army by enlisting at the beginning of World War I and find themselves fighting in the French warfare. The story is told entirely through the experiences of the young German recruits and highlights the tragedy of warRead MoreArgument Essay On The Most Dangerous Game736 Words   |  3 Pagesbecause we are mad and want to vent Maybe we argue because we are convinced we are right even if we realize later that we werent. We ask ourselves why why do we fight battles we now we are destined to lose? The argument of â€Å"The Most Dangerous Game† General Zaroff, hunts trapped sailors on his island. He does this because he is bored of hunting animals he knows he will win. He thinks he will also defeat Rainsford, other great hunter. Zaroff is a murderer and is uncivilized because he killed people forRe ad MoreWorld War I And The Great War1509 Words   |  7 Pagesimaginations cannot fully understand what it would have been like, since most of us have never been through anything remotely close to what occurred in the trenches. The sight of the terror in a dying man’s eyes, like that of Karl’s brother in â€Å"Generals Die in Bed†. A story like this is only black and white, a paper with words that do not show a legitimate picture of what it would have been like. Writing also cannot describe the sight of the thousands of soldiers dying as they marched straight into theRead MoreThe Nazis Attempt to Eliminate All Jews in Europe from 1941 Onwards731 Words   |  3 PagesPoland that Hitler felt had to be controlled and used as a work force, whilst there the average Jew in the Warsaw ghetto had any property confiscated and would have to share a room with 7 other people; so 21 people might live in a three bed roomed house e.t.c. And only 1 in 100 flats had running water, with widespread disease and hunger throughout the ghettos many people died, in the Warsaw ghetto alone 500,000 died of starvation and typhus. The Jews where prisoners inRead MoreThe Importance Of A Nurse And A Healthcare Assistant1409 Words   |  6 Pagesthat nurses may face: Right to die- an adult nurse faces many ethical dilemmas in their job role. One of the most common dilemmas nurses will face will be elderly or terminally ill patients that either refuse medication that had been prescribed for them or directly ask to be left to die. Legally healthcare professionals are not allowed to help patients to die as this is governed by law. There are only a few know cases of people who have been granted the right to die, one case was the case of a 43Read MoreComparing The Superstitious Mans Story And The Call Essay621 Words   |  3 Pagesshe decides to go up to their chamber but to her great surprise, on reaching the foot the staircase she sees Williams boots, standing in the same place as they always stood, when he had gone to bed. Then going up the staircase and entering the chamber, she found William in bed sleeping as sound as a rock. By now Betty was confused and couldnt quite work out what had gone off. She wonders now how William could have got back again with out her seeing or hearing him, thisRead MoreEssay My Most Dangerous Game525 Words   |  3 PagesThe general sipped his wine and left the room. Ivan came out with the materials for Rainsford like the general promised. Ivan handed Rainsford the knife and turned slightly to the sound of a dog bark from outside. At this moment, Rainsford stabbed the giant in the rib cage. The giant fell to the ground with a loud thud. Rainsford grabbed the giant’s gun from his hip and ran quickly out the door. When General Zaroff came heard the loud thud, he rushed toward it. When he arrived, he saw Ivan lyingRead MoreThe Most Dangerous Game By Richard Connell1360 Words   |  6 PagesNguyen Mr. Crockwell English Acc 1p: Period 1 24 September 2017 The Most Dangerous Essay Underestimation and cruel actions lead to many things. In â€Å"The Most Dangerous Game,† author Richard Connell reveals a conflict between the main characters, General Zaroff and Rainsford. Rainsford was to play the most dangerous game created by Zaroff, because the only way to survive, is to win it, otherwise death is the only other option. As demonstrated through the use of personification, symbolism, and repetition